1.12-W Q-switched Yb:KGW laser based on transmission-type Bi₂Se₃ saturable absorber

We present a passively Q-switched Yb:KGW laser based on a transmission-type saturable absorber of topological insulator: Bi₂Se₃. The saturable absorber is prepared on a 0.17-mm glass substrate and can translate intra-cavity for best performance nearly without influence on the laser mode. At a maximum pump power of 13.7 W, the central wavelength, pulse duration, repetition rate, and pulse energy of Q-switched pulse are 1043 nm, 1.5 μs, 175.4 kHz, 6.39 μJ, respectively. The maximum output power is 1.12 W. To our knowledge, this is the highest average output power from passively Q-switched lasers with topological insulator saturable absorbers.